More than two years into the pandemic, coronavirus infections are surging in China and nations in Europe. The reason: BA.2, a highly contagious version of the Omicron variant.At the same time, the United States is doing away with a number of pandemic restrictions, with mask mandates ending and businesses no longer requiring proof of vaccination from customers.We explore what these BA.2 surges look like and ask whether the U.S. is ready for a new wave of Covid cases.Guest: Apoorva Mandavilli, a science and global health reporter for The New York Times.Have you lost a loved one during the pandemic? The Daily is working on a special episode memorializing those we have lost to the coronavirus. If you would like to share their name on the episode, please RECORD A VOICE MEMO and send it to us at [email protected]. You can find more information and specific instructions here.Background reading: Another Covid surge may be coming, and some scientists are warning that the U.S. isn’t doing enough to prevent it from endangering vulnerable Americans and upending lives.Many epidemiologists suspect that BA.2 may reverse the decline of cases in the United States. Here’s what we know so far about the variant. Want more from The Daily? For one big idea on the news each week from our team, subscribe to our newsletter. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
China has enforced new lockdown restrictions in several major cities due to a surge in COVID-19 cases among factory workers, while restrictions in the US have eased.
Germany is experiencing a steep rise in COVID-19 cases due to a sub-variant of the BA1 variant. The UK's 20 to 30% increase in hospitalizations is also a cause for concern.
The pandemic has highlighted major disparities in terms of access to resources, healthcare and the ability to protect oneself from the virus, with marginalized communities being disproportionately affected. Although vaccines have become available, not everyone has equal access, leaving some individuals at higher risk than others.
64 Chernobyl nuclear plant workers who had been on duty for three weeks straight after being forced to work by Russian soldiers have been allowed to leave their shifts. Volunteers were sent, allowing the tired workers to rotate out.